Diversity of World Religious Expression Eastern (Indian) Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism Pravin K. Shah JAINA Education Committee Federation of Jain Associations in North America 509 Carriage Woods Circle, Cary NC 27513-6469 E-mail: jainaedu@gmail.com www.jainelibrary.org 919-859-4994

Diversity of World Religious Expression

Topics Brahmana System – Hinduism Samana System Buddhism Jainism

Eastern (Indian) Religions Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism Common Features: Goal of Life - Liberation (Moksha) Eternal Human Suffering - Soul's Ignorance Philosophy of Karma Continuity of Life (Reincarnation) Mystical (Human Experience) Self Realization (Direct contact with God/Self) Scripture has no authority over Realized Person Individual

Eastern (Indian) Religion Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism Common Features (continued): Freedom to choose God(s)/no-God No Judgment Day No Eternal Hell/Heaven Worshipping - All Day Universe Exists in Endless Cycle Religious Symbols (OM, Swastika, Lotus) Cremation Systems of Philosophy Developed Brahmana System (Hinduism) Samana System (Jainism, Buddhism)

Brahmana System - Hinduism God – Creator, Preserver, Destroyer (Cyclic) God is universe and universe is God (synonymous) At liberation, soul merges with God or Universe Soul becomes infinity Highly Ritualistic (elaborate and fancy) Animal Sacrifices in the past Scriptures have certain authority in the initial stage of Spiritual progress Vedas, Upanishads, Geeta, Brahma Sutra Scriptures are in Sanskrit

Systems of Philosophy - Hinduism Yoga Path of Meditation and Self-effort Sage Pantanjali Samkhya Path of pure understanding and Comtemplation Sage Kapil Nyaya School of Logic based on Nyaya Sutras Aksapada Gautam

Systems of Philosophy - Hinduism Vaisesika The atomist School - Extension of Nyaya logics The atomists theorized that nature consists of two fundamental principles: atom and void Sage Kanada Earlier Mimasa The tradition of Vedic interpretation, with emphasis on Vedic ritual Later Mimasa (popularly known as Hinduism) Vedanta - the Upanishadic tradition, with emphasis on Vedic philosophy Saivism, Saktism, Vaisnavism, Liberalism

Primary Paths - Hinduism: Path of Devotion or Surrender (Bhakti Yoga) Enjoyment of Supreme Love and Bliss Path of Knowledge (Jnan Yoga) Realization of unique and supreme Self through contemplation Path of Action (Karma Yoga) Dedication of every human activity to Supreme Will Path of Self Control/Meditation (Raj Yoga) Liberation through the perfection of body, thought, emotion and consciousness

Duties of Individuals (Caste Systems) Hinduism Duties of Individuals (Caste Systems) Priests-intellectuals (Brahmins) Establish and preserve the national ideas and philosophy Rulers and warriors (Kshatriyas) Protect the state from external aggression and establish internal order Merchants and artisans (Vaishyas) Production of national wealth Sudras To do the menial work

Duties at various Stages of Life Hinduism: Duties at various Stages of Life Student life (Brahmcharya Ashram) Preparatory period Householder life (Gruhastha Ashram) Worldly success: wealth, fame and power Retirement life (Vanpastha Ashram) Service to community and fellow man Renunciation life (Sanyas Ashram) Renunciation of possessions and family for realization of true self

Samana System (Buddhism and Jainism) No Creator God Humans are capable to achieve the highest spiritual state Scriptures have no authority (they are only guide) Human experience or Self Realization is the ultimate authority Primary Path Path of Knowledge (Jnan Yoga) Realization of unique and supreme self through knowledge Nonviolence, self control, penance, and meditation Revolt against Hindu caste distinction, fancy rituals, and animal sacrifice

Buddhism: The Supreme At Nirvana In Samsar (world) Supreme is completely transcendent and can be described as: Sunya (zero), a void, an emptiness, state of non-being At Nirvana The future vanishes, the past vanishes, and one lives at the present moment Being looses its identity and becomes nothing Being turns into a state of non-being, emptiness void, or Sunya In Samsar (world) Being is a combination of physical and mental forces/energies

Buddhism: (continued) Man's true nature is divine and eternal Preaching - The greatness of self giving love and compassion towards all creatures Middle path consist of living moderately and avoiding extremes Scriptures - Tripitika for Theravad sect, Sutras for Mahayan sect Written in Pali language (vernacular)

Four Noble Truth - Buddhism: Four Noble Truths 1. Suffering Exist Being born, Growing old, Sickness, and Death; all are Sufferings 2. Cause of Suffering Desire "thirst" to be and to become is the root cause of all sufferings and rebirth 3. Cessation of Suffering Complete elemination of Desire and Craving, which is a state of Nirvana: passionless peace, perfect insight, enlightenment, perfect knowledge, immortality

Four Noble Truth - Buddhism: 4. Eight-fold Path to End Suffering Right Belief Right Thought or Aim Right Speech Right Action Right Livelihood or Occupation Right Effort or Endeavor Right Mindfulness Right Meditation

Jainism - Basic Belief God, Universe and Life God is not a Creator, Preserver or Destroyer of the Universe Liberated Souls are Jain Gods, who are only knower and Observer but not Doer Universe is made up of Two Eternal and Self Existed Elements Living beings (Souls) Non-living Substances (Matters, Space, mediums of Motion and Rest, Time) The Principles governing the successions of life cycles (Birth, Life, and Death) is Karma particles which are attached to the Soul from eternity.

Jainism - Basic Belief (continued) Life Sufferings Ignorance (Mithyatva) is the root cause of all Sufferings Soul is Ignorant from eternity Karma is attached to the Soul from eternity Ultimate Goal of Life Removal of Soul's Ignorance hence free from all karma Liberated Soul is all Knower and Observer but not a Doer (an Ideal State of a Living-being)

Jain Religion Features Every living being is Eternal, Individual, and has a potential to become Liberated or God At liberation the soul remains finite, lives in Moksha forever, and never loses its identity The Principles governing the successions of life cycles (Birth, Life, and Death) is Karma Our ignorance and/or intention behind our actions of body, mind, and speech bind us with Karma Path of liberation is to follow Right Conviction, Right Knowledge, and Right Conduct

Jain Religion Features (continued) Proper knowledge of the six Universal substances and nine fundamental truths (Tattvas), are essential for Right Perception, Knowledge and Conduct. Desire is the root cause of all sufferings Elimination of your desire by your own effort in order to attain liberation. Self purification, penance, austerity, and meditation are essential to eliminate the desire (Right Conduct). Nonviolence is the highest principle to be followed in thought, speech, and action. One must cease injuring sentient creatures, large and small.

Jain Religion Features (continued) Since human life cannot exist without some form of violence, one must live a life with minimum violence to one sense beings. Karma philosophy applies to ourselves, Compassion applies to all Scriptures - Agam Sutras written in Ardha-magdhi language (vernacular) Scriptures guide moral and spiritual life to ultimately attain liberation